Technology helps railroads attain safety milestones. Railway transport minimizes their impact on the environment. They maintain a competitive edge in the fast-paced global economy of today.
The future of the railways in Germany is uncertain. Technological developments, db reiseauskunft innovations, changes in the competitive situation and the tension between the common good and profit-oriented requirements lead to complex challenges.
In addition, national and international politics, trade unions and associations as well as participating companies have diametrically different ideas about the future development of the railways. There is currently no discernible political, entrepreneurial or social tendency that would give the railways a clear direction. The need for common models, targeted strategies and concrete measures is obvious and a debate about the role of the railways in Germany is long overdue.
AI in db reiseauskunft railways: A train with a brain?
Artificial intelligence in the railways is already helping you with everyday problems. Using AI, not only could information be distributed, but concrete processes and actions could be initiated, such as automated braking of the train while still in sight.
In the future, trains will talk to each other digitally with signal boxes, with points. Everyone knows each other who is where. It is still a vision for the future, but they are currently working on every nook and cranny to make this vision a reality.
The next big thing: Blockchain in DB
One of the most promising future technologies is blockchain. Blockchain began its triumphal march as the basic technology behind cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. However, their use is conceivable in many other industries. At DB, they are also already working on various fields of application.
More and more people are using local public transport in Germany. At the same time, there are more and more providers, in addition to rail transport companies and bus operators, car sharing providers, rental bike systems and ride-sharing services. Travellers want to use public transport as easy as possible. They don’t want to pay attention to network boundaries, providers or tariffs. It is already very complex today to clearly determine which income is accruing to which provider. Seamless travel chains, which are integrating more and more providers, make the clear allocation of sales even more difficult.
The solution could be a new blockchain-based platform that they developed in cooperation with IBM. The application enables faster and deeper integration and billing between different mobility providers.